US, Russian FM to Meet on Syrian Conflict

6 December 2012

NATO decided to send the Patriot missile-defense system to Turkey earlier this week…NATO officials stress the Patriot system is purely defensive and does not signal any intention to intervene in the Syria conflict.

Secretary of State Clinton said Wednesday the decision sends a “clear message” to Syrian leaders that Turkey has the alliance’s full support. She called for President Bashar al-Assad to reach a political settlement with Syria’s newly reorganized opposition and warned that the use of chemical weapons by Syria is unacceptable.

“Our concerns are that an increasingly desperate Assad regime might turn to chemical weapons, or might lose control of them to one of the many groups that are now operating within Syria,” she said. “And so, as part of the absolute unity that we all have on this issue, we have sent an unmistakable message that this would cross a red line and those responsible would be held to account.” http://www.voanews.com/content/german-cabinet-agrees-to-deploy-missiles-to-turkey/1559461.html

Syria has, in the past, admitted to having both chemical and biological weapons. And directly or indirectly, President Assad’s regime has told the world that to attack Syria would have a very high cost.

Although at least twice Syria’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Jihad Makdissi has stated that Syria would not use chemical weapons against its own people e.g. (Syrian Official Acknowledges Having Chemical Weapons and Declares Syria Will Use Them If Attacked), there are at least two concerns that way. The first is that it is rumored that the Jihad Makdissi has possibly defected, so maybe he feels that President Assad has changed his own mind. And the second is that Syria has indicated that there are foreign forces mainly behind the opposition, which presumably may ‘justify’ in the regime’s mind releasing chemical agents against people in Syria.

Yet, if President Assad uses chemical weapons against his own people, he realizes that he risks direct military intervention from the West. He is certainly aware that the indirect military and political support his opposition has already received from the West is currently weakening his regime. Plus he knows what happened to Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein when the West/USA decided those leaders went too far. Thus, while he may feel cornered, he is likely considering many options. He may also decide that the threat of using biological weapons against the USA and/or others may deter direct attacks against him. However, that would seem to be a mistake.

Both biblical and Islamic prophecy tell of the destruction of Syria’s capital Damascus. Here is some of what Bible prophecies teaches:

7 thus says the Lord God: “It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus (Isaiah 7:7-8)

3 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron. (Amos 1:3)

1 The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap. (Isaiah 17:1)

23 Against Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are shamed, For they have heard bad news. They are fainthearted; There is trouble on the sea; It cannot be quiet. 24 Damascus has grown feeble; She turns to flee, And fear has seized her. Anguish and sorrows have taken her like a woman in labor. 25 Why is the city of praise not deserted, the city of My joy? 26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, And all the men of war shall be cut off in that day,” says the Lord of hosts. 27 “I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, And it shall consume the palaces of Ben-Hadad.” (Jeremiah 49:23-27)

The Bible also suggests that Syria will be involved in a confederation of North African and Middle Eastern nations (Ezekiel 30:1-8; Psalm 83:4-8) who will support a leader that the Bible refers to as the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43). Since the Muslim Brotherhood wants a similar confederation, I have long believed that Syria will align with it or a group like it–and since Syria’s President is opposed to that, he will have to go or change his views.

Syria’s President Assad may decide to release chemical and/or biological weapons against his opposition and/or Israel. The reactions to this may well result in the destruction of Damascus. The Bible teaches Damascus has to be destroyed, and probably relatively soon.